SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 15

Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For each question, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers the question.

Passage 1

The following passage is adapted from a work of narrative fiction.

The storm had been gathering since noon, and by the time Marguerite reached the lighthouse keeper’s cottage, the first heavy drops were already darkening the stone path. She had walked the three miles from the village with her father’s supper wrapped in cloth, as she did every Thursday, but today (5) the familiar route felt strange and urgent. The wind carried a metallic taste.     Inside, her father stood at the narrow window, watching the horizon. He did not turn when she entered. “You shouldn’t have come,” he said quietly. “The glass has been falling all morning.”     Marguerite set the bundle on the table. She had heard him speak (10) of the barometer often enough to know what a falling glass meant, but she had never seen him anxious. He was a man who moved through life with the steady rhythm of the tides, predictable and unshaken. Now his hands worked at his sides, opening and closing.     “There’s a schooner out there,” he said, still facing the window. “I (15) saw her an hour ago, running south. She should have made for the harbor, but she kept on.” He paused. “She’ll be on the rocks before midnight if this keeps up.”     Marguerite joined him at the window. The sea had turned the color of slate, and the waves were building with a terrible patience. She thought of the men aboard that distant vessel, unaware or unwilling to believe what was (20) coming. Her father’s jaw tightened. “I’ll light the lamp early,” he said. “It’s all I can do.”

1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. describe the setting and establish a mood of unease
2. explain why Marguerite walks three miles every Thursday
3. introduce the relationship between Marguerite and her father
4. contrast the familiar with the dangerous
5. illustrate the unpredictable nature of coastal weather

2. As used in line 6, the word “metallic” most nearly means

1. shiny
2. industrial
3. sharp and unnatural
4. composed of iron
5. valuable

3. The father’s statement “You shouldn’t have come” (line 8) suggests that he

1. is angry with Marguerite for disobeying his orders
2. prefers to be alone when working at the lighthouse
3. is concerned for Marguerite’s safety in the worsening weather
4. does not want to eat the supper she has brought
5. believes Marguerite should have arrived earlier in the day

4. The passage characterizes the father primarily through

1. his dialogue with Marguerite about the barometer
2. his physical actions and emotional state
3. Marguerite’s memories of his past behavior
4. his expertise in maritime navigation
5. his decision to light the lamp early

5. The comparison of the father to “the steady rhythm of the tides” (line 12) emphasizes his usual

1. connection to the natural world
2. reliability and composure
3. isolation from other people
4. expertise in predicting weather
5. devotion to his work at the lighthouse

6. The detail that the father’s hands were “opening and closing” (line 13) serves to

1. demonstrate his preparation for lighting the lamp
2. show his physical strength and capability
3. reveal his inner nervousness despite his calm exterior
4. indicate that he is cold from the dropping temperature
5. suggest that he is angry at the schooner’s captain

7. The tone of the final paragraph can best be described as

1. resigned and somber
2. hopeful and optimistic
3. confused and uncertain
4. angry and defiant
5. detached and clinical

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article on the archaeology of ancient trade routes.

The Incense Road, less famous than the Silk Road but no less significant, stretched from the Arabian Peninsula northward through harsh desert terrain to the Mediterranean world. For over a thousand years, this network of caravan routes carried frankincense and myrrh, resins prized in the ancient (5) world for religious rituals, medicine, and embalming. Recent archaeological excavations in southern Arabia have revealed the sophisticated infrastructure that supported this trade: wells dug at precise intervals, fortified way stations, and even what appear to be early forms of regulatory posts where goods were inspected and taxed.     The economic importance of incense (10) in antiquity is difficult for modern observers to grasp. These resins, harvested from Boswellia and Commiphora trees that grew only in limited regions of southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa, commanded prices comparable to gold. Roman sources report that the Emperor Nero burned a year’s worth of Arabia’s frankincense production at the funeral of (15) his wife Poppaea in 65 CE, a gesture of extravagance that scandalized even his contemporaries.     What made this trade possible was not merely demand, but an intricate knowledge of desert survival. Nabataean merchants, who dominated the incense trade for centuries, developed expertise in locating and managing water sources across seemingly impassable terrain. (20) They bred specialized camels capable of traveling eight to ten days without water, and they established a system of relay stations where caravans could rest and resupply. This infrastructure represented a technological achievement comparable to Rome’s famous road system, though adapted to radically different environmental conditions.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. the Incense Road was more important than the Silk Road to ancient economies
2. the Incense Road required sophisticated infrastructure and knowledge to operate successfully
3. frankincense and myrrh were valued primarily for religious purposes in the ancient world
4. recent archaeological discoveries have revealed the exact route of the Incense Road
5. Nabataean merchants controlled all trade between Arabia and the Mediterranean

9. According to the passage, frankincense and myrrh were used in ancient times for all of the following EXCEPT

1. religious rituals
2. medical treatments
3. embalming the dead
4. currency exchange
5. funeral ceremonies

10. As used in line 8, the word “regulatory” most nearly means

1. governmental
2. controlling or supervising
3. protective
4. military
5. commercial

11. The author mentions Nero’s burning of frankincense (lines 14-16) primarily to

1. illustrate the excessive wealth of Roman emperors
2. demonstrate the enormous value placed on incense in the ancient world
3. criticize wasteful practices in Roman society
4. explain why frankincense became scarce in later periods
5. show that Nero was deeply devoted to his wife

12. The passage suggests that the Nabataeans’ success in the incense trade depended most heavily on their

1. military strength and ability to protect caravans
2. exclusive access to frankincense and myrrh trees
3. knowledge of desert conditions and water management
4. diplomatic relationships with Roman authorities
5. ability to charge prices comparable to gold

13. The comparison between the Nabataean relay station system and Rome’s road system (lines 21-23) serves to

1. argue that the Nabataeans were more technologically advanced than the Romans
2. emphasize that both civilizations valued trade equally
3. highlight the impressive engineering achievement of the Nabataeans in a different environment
4. suggest that the Romans learned infrastructure techniques from the Nabataeans
5. prove that desert conditions were more challenging than any faced by Rome

14. Based on the passage, which of the following can be inferred about the trees that produced frankincense and myrrh?

1. They were deliberately planted along the Incense Road to ensure steady supply.
2. They could survive for eight to ten days without water.
3. Their limited geographic range contributed to the high value of their resins.
4. They were considered sacred by the Nabataean merchants.
5. They grew only in regions controlled by the Roman Empire.

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in 1877 in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana.

Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who (5) led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are-perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among (10) the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. negotiate better terms of surrender with General Howard
2. announce Chief Joseph’s decision to end armed resistance
3. honor the memory of the chiefs who died in battle
4. request assistance in locating members of his tribe
5. express anger at the treatment of the Nez Perce people

16. As used in line 2, the phrase “I have it in my heart” most nearly means

1. I feel emotional about it
2. I remember and honor it
3. I am deeply wounded by it
4. I question its truthfulness
5. I treasure it as valuable

17. The statement “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5) suggests that

1. young men have always held decision-making power in the tribe
2. Chief Joseph disapproves of the younger generation’s choices
3. the traditional leadership structure has been disrupted by the deaths of elders
4. General Howard should negotiate with the young men instead
5. the young men are more willing to fight than Chief Joseph

18. Chief Joseph’s repetition of the word “dead” (lines 3-5, 10) serves primarily to

1. emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
2. place blame on General Howard for the deaths
3. demonstrate his own grief over personal losses
4. justify his decision to continue fighting
5. prove that his people were defeated militarily

19. The tone of the speech can best be described as

1. bitter and accusatory
2. weary and mournful
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. defiant and proud
5. confused and uncertain

20. The final sentence (“From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever”) is powerful primarily because it

1. uses poetic language to mark a definitive and solemn ending
2. references the traditional Nez Perce method of telling time
3. contradicts everything Chief Joseph has said previously
4. suggests that Chief Joseph may resume fighting in the future
5. demonstrates Chief Joseph’s superior skill as an orator

■ ■ ■   STOP   ■ ■ ■

IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED, YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY. DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION OF THE TEST.

Answer Key

1. Ans: (A) – describe the setting and establish a mood of unease
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph introduces the approaching storm, describes Marguerite’s journey, and notes that “the familiar route felt strange and urgent” and that “the wind carried a metallic taste” (lines 5-6), all of which create an uneasy atmosphere. Choice (B) is too narrow, as this detail is mentioned but is not the primary purpose. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage is not primarily about weather unpredictability but about the specific tension of this particular storm.

2. Ans: (C) – sharp and unnatural
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The metallic taste carried by the wind suggests something sharp, harsh, and ominous, indicating that the storm is unusual and dangerous (line 6). Choice (A) is wrong because “shiny” refers to a visual quality, not a taste. Choice (D) is wrong because while “metallic” can literally mean “composed of iron,” the wind cannot literally be made of metal, so the figurative meaning is required.

3. Ans: (C) – is concerned for Marguerite’s safety in the worsening weather
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The father mentions that “the glass has been falling all morning” (line 8), indicating dangerous weather, immediately after telling Marguerite she shouldn’t have come, which suggests he is worried about her safety. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no indication he is angry or that he had previously forbidden her to come. Choice (D) is wrong because the father never mentions or shows concern about the supper itself.

4. Ans: (B) – his physical actions and emotional state
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage describes the father standing at the window, his hands “opening and closing” (line 13), and his “jaw tightened” (line 20), all physical manifestations of his anxiety. Choice (A) is too narrow, as the dialogue is only one element of characterization. Choice (E) is wrong because the decision to light the lamp is mentioned only at the very end and is not the primary method of characterization throughout.

5. Ans: (B) – reliability and composure
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that the father was “a man who moved through life with the steady rhythm of the tides, predictable and unshaken” (lines 11-12), which directly indicates reliability and composure. Choice (A) is wrong because while tides are natural, the comparison emphasizes steadiness, not connection to nature. Choice (C) is wrong because the comparison to tides speaks to his temperament, not his social isolation.

6. Ans: (C) – reveal his inner nervousness despite his calm exterior
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The detail about his hands “opening and closing” (line 13) follows immediately after the passage explains that Marguerite “had never seen him anxious,” showing that his usual composure is now disrupted by worry. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no indication that this hand movement is related to practical preparation. Choice (D) is wrong because there is no mention of temperature affecting him physically.

7. Ans: (A) – resigned and somber
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The father’s statement “It’s all I can do” (line 21) conveys resignation to his limited power, while the description of the waves building with “terrible patience” and Marguerite thinking of the unaware men creates a somber mood (lines 18-20). Choice (B) is wrong because there is no indication of hope-the father can only light the lamp and wait. Choice (D) is wrong because the father shows no anger, only concern and acceptance of his limitations.

8. Ans: (B) – the Incense Road required sophisticated infrastructure and knowledge to operate successfully
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses the “sophisticated infrastructure” in the first paragraph (line 6), the economic importance in the second, and the “intricate knowledge of desert survival” and “technological achievement” in the third (lines 17, 21-22). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage explicitly states the Incense Road was “less famous” and says it was “no less significant,” not more important. Choice (D) is wrong because while archaeological discoveries are mentioned, revealing the exact route is not the main focus.

9. Ans: (D) – currency exchange
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that frankincense and myrrh were used “for religious rituals, medicine, and embalming” (lines 5-6) and mentions Nero’s funeral use (line 14), but never mentions their use as currency. Choice (A) is wrong because “religious rituals” is explicitly stated in line 5. Choice (B) is wrong because “medicine” is explicitly stated in line 5.

10. Ans: (B) – controlling or supervising
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes “regulatory posts where goods were inspected and taxed” (lines 8-9), indicating that these posts controlled and supervised the trade. Choice (A) is wrong because while regulatory posts might be governmental, the context emphasizes the function of control and inspection, not the political nature. Choice (D) is wrong because there is no indication these posts were military in nature.

11. Ans: (B) – demonstrate the enormous value placed on incense in the ancient world
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The anecdote about Nero burning “a year’s worth of Arabia’s frankincense production” (lines 14-15) appears in a paragraph discussing how “difficult for modern observers to grasp” the economic importance was (lines 9-10), illustrating extraordinary value. Choice (A) is too broad-while Nero was wealthy, the point is specifically about incense value. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage states the gesture “scandalized even his contemporaries” (line 16), suggesting it was seen as excessive rather than devotional.

12. Ans: (C) – knowledge of desert conditions and water management
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that the Nabataeans “developed expertise in locating and managing water sources” and “established a system of relay stations” (lines 18-21), emphasizing their specialized knowledge. Choice (A) is wrong because military protection is never mentioned in the passage. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage indicates the trees grew in southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa (lines 12-13), not exclusively in Nabataean territory.

13. Ans: (C) – highlight the impressive engineering achievement of the Nabataeans in a different environment
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The comparison describes the Nabataean infrastructure as “comparable to Rome’s famous road system, though adapted to radically different environmental conditions” (lines 21-23), emphasizing equal achievement under different circumstances. Choice (A) is wrong because “comparable to” suggests equality, not superiority. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage makes no claim about Romans learning from Nabataeans.

14. Ans: (C) – Their limited geographic range contributed to the high value of their resins.
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states the trees “grew only in limited regions” (line 12) and that the resins “commanded prices comparable to gold” (line 13), allowing the inference that scarcity drove value. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no evidence of deliberate planting mentioned. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage indicates the trees grew in “southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa” (lines 12-13), regions not described as Roman-controlled.

15. Ans: (B) – announce Chief Joseph’s decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech is titled a “surrender speech” in the introduction, and Chief Joseph states “I am tired of fighting” (line 2) and concludes “I will fight no more forever” (lines 11-12), clearly announcing his surrender. Choice (A) is wrong because Chief Joseph does not request or negotiate terms-he simply announces his decision. Choice (D) is too narrow-while he mentions wanting to find his children (lines 8-9), this is not the primary purpose of the entire speech.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and honor it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph says “What he told me before, I have it in my heart” (lines 1-2), indicating he remembers and respects General Howard’s earlier words. Choice (A) is wrong because while the phrase involves the heart, it refers to remembering something said before, not current emotion. Choice (C) is wrong because there is no indication of being wounded-the tone is respectful.

17. Ans: (C) – the traditional leadership structure has been disrupted by the deaths of elders
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph lists the dead chiefs and notes “The old men are all dead” (line 4) immediately before stating that now “the young men” make decisions (lines 4-5), showing a shift in leadership due to loss. Choice (A) is wrong because the statement follows a list of dead traditional leaders, indicating this is a change, not the norm. Choice (E) is wrong because Chief Joseph does not suggest the young men want to fight-he is explaining the current situation after leaders have died.

18. Ans: (A) – emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph repeats “dead” when listing “Looking Glass is dead, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead” (lines 3-4) and “among the dead” (line 10), emphasizing the scale of loss. Choice (B) is wrong because while he addresses General Howard, he does not blame him for the deaths. Choice (D) is wrong because the repetition supports his decision to stop fighting, not continue it.

19. Ans: (B) – weary and mournful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph states “I am tired of fighting” (line 2) and “I am tired; my heart is sick and sad” (lines 10-11), directly expressing weariness, while his focus on the dead and freezing children conveys mourning. Choice (A) is wrong because Chief Joseph shows no bitterness or accusation-he even says “I know his heart” (line 1) respectfully of General Howard. Choice (D) is wrong because the entire speech is about surrender, the opposite of defiance.

20. Ans: (A) – uses poetic language to mark a definitive and solemn ending
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (line 11) is elevated, poetic language that marks the present moment, and “forever” provides absolute finality, making the surrender declaration solemn and memorable. Choice (C) is wrong because the sentence does not contradict what came before-it confirms and finalizes his stated decision to stop fighting. Choice (D) is wrong because “forever” indicates permanence, not a possibility of resuming.